Aces Struggle in Playoffs as Fever Take Command in Semifinals
The Las Vegas Aces faced a challenging start to their WNBA Semifinals series against the Indiana Fever, suffering a significant defeat at home on September 21, 2025. The Fever dominated the matchup, winning 89-73 and taking a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series. This loss followed an impressive 16-game winning streak that had positioned the Aces as the No. 2 seed in the postseason.
From the outset, the Fever displayed a commanding performance, outscoring the Aces in every quarter. Star guard Kelsey Mitchell proved to be a formidable opponent, scoring 34 points and consistently breaking through the Aces’ defense. In contrast, A’ja Wilson, who had been named the 2025 WNBA MVP earlier that day, struggled to find her rhythm, finishing with just 16 points on 6-of-22 shooting.
In her post-game remarks, Aces head coach Becky Hammon addressed the team’s performance, highlighting critical issues that contributed to the loss. “They played with a greater sense of urgency. We couldn’t catch up to their pace,” Hammon stated. She pointed to the team’s difficulty in both offensive execution and defensive containment, especially regarding Mitchell.
Hammon noted, “We had 12 assists tonight, in 40 minutes. 12. And 12 turnovers.” This statistic underscored a lack of movement and coordination on the offensive end, which Hammon emphasized needed improvement. The coach also lamented missed opportunities, mentioning that the Aces failed to convert several layups. “I know we had six or seven [misses] at halftime, and the trend kind of continued in the second half. So, I mean, that’s potentially 20 points on the board,” she remarked.
Looking ahead, the Aces must regroup quickly as they prepare for Game 2 in the series, scheduled for the upcoming Tuesday. While the team’s performance in the opening game was disappointing, there remains confidence that Wilson will rebound from her subpar outing. Hammon appeared to be holding her team accountable for their mistakes, suggesting a serious conversation was needed to address the issues exposed during the game.
As the Fever carry momentum into the next matchup, the Aces will need to elevate their game significantly to level the series. The stakes are high, and both teams will be keenly aware of the importance of this next clash in determining the trajectory of the semifinals.
